A lawsuit filed against the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo under the Child Victims Act's look-back window accuses the organization of being a “racketeering enterprise.”
Attorney Kevin Stocker filed the lawsuit this week against the diocese, referencing the Racketeers Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, which is typically used to target organized crime.
The lawsuit focuses on payments to law firms and accountants to conceal misconduct by the diocese.
It names priests and diocese leaders, accusing them of working with one another to prevent the abuse from becoming public.
The suit states whistleblowers came forward to report issues but were fired as a result.
The diocese said it received the document from the media and that the suit is filled with "procedural deficiencies" and "irresponsible claims."
